Container for storing liquids



1111111111111111111111111 o. 1,408,829. Ptllted Mah 7, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHET1l EN TOR.'

W. D. RIAL.

CONTAINER FOR STOHINE LIQUIDS.

APPLlcAxoN man mm1. |920.

1 ,408,829. Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTORNEY.

W. D. RIAL.

CONTAINER FOR STORING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED JuNE1. 1920.

1,408,829. Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- INI/EN TOR:

A TTORNEY-S.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WIRT D. RIAL, OF PONCA CITY, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR TO MARYLAND REFINING COMPANY, OF PON'CA CITY, OKLAHOMA, A CORPORATION OF OKLAHOMA.

CONTAINER FOR STORING LIQUIDS.

Application led June 1,

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, VVIRT D. RIAL, a citizen of the United States residin at Ponca City, in the county of lay an State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Containers for Storing Liquids, of which the following is a speclfication.

This invention relates to a method of, and tanks and the like containers for storing liquids, particularly liquids of a volatile and inflammable nature. such' as gasoline and other hydrocarbon oils.

It is well known that, as at present stored, hydrocarbons rapidly decrease in volume due to evaporation which takes place even at normal temperatures, and deteriorate in quality, due to some extent to 'the uneven temperatures to which they are subjected; and moreover the evaporation of these liquids produces a highly inflammable gaseous mixture which saturates the atmosphere adjacent the storage receptacle, and is apt to become ignited from various causes such as lightning, sparks, and the carelessness of attendants and others in the vicinity of the receptacle.

The construction of *large containers l which will be impervious to the hydrocarbons which they contain is well-nigh impossible, because they must of necessity be jointed, and the liquid seeps through the joints and escapes, thus forming an inflammable mixture with the air surrounding the container not only at its upper portions but also close to the ground.

One object of this invention is, there-l fore, to provide a method of storing liquids of an inflammable nature, and to so construct the containers for such liquids that the fire hazard will be greatly lessened, and the rate of evaporation of the contents of such containers reduced.

Another object is to provide means whereby a current of cooling air will be constantly circulated over and around the entire exterior surface of such containers for the purpose of maintaining the contents thereof at a substantially even constant temperature, and to collect and carry off, through a protected outlet, all inflammable vapor surrounding the container, whereby the danger of ignition of the contents of the container through the action of lightning, sparks or exterior heat or fire will be reduced Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 7, 1922, 192e. serial No. 385,690.

to a minimum, and the quantity and uallty of the liquid in the container materially stabilized. j

Still another object is to provide devices for collecting and conducting to the earth static electricity, whereby the danger of ignition of the inflammable vapors bysuch electricity is materially lessened.

lViththese and other objects in view, the invention consists in a method of storing inflammable liquids, and in means for carrying out this method which consist in surrounding a tank or container of ordinary construction with a casing or housing of suitable material spaced from the walls of the container to afford an air chamber, this casing being provided with air inlets at its base and an outlet at its top, whereby a circulation of air over the entire exposed surface of the container is provided for; and the invention consists further in a special vent or ventilator for the outlet, and in electrical conducting devices connected to the framework of the casing, all as I will proceed now to explain and finally claim.

In the accompanying drawings in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a top view of the device, a portion being removed to show the supporting framework. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of same. Fig. 3ds a partial transverse section. Fig. lisa detail view of the ventilator. Fig. 5 is a Sectional plan view showing the center connections of the roof framework.

Referring more particularly to the drawings. 1 designates the usual storage tank or container, which is supported upon or close to the ground, and in this tank is stored the gasoline or the like.

Around the tank 1 is constructed a side framework 2 of metal or other suitable noninflammable material such as reinforced concrete. which framework is supported up- 011 footings or piers 2' disposed at intervals around the circumference of the tank, the number of such footings depending upon the extent of the circumference, eight footings being used in the construction shown, and the framework 2 being octagonal in shape.

This framework 2 supports the roof frame 3, the main members 4 of which are connected to a central tie ring 5 (see Fig. 5) and the whole roof frame being so constructed and trussed as to need no central supports, but being in effect self supporting.

The side framework is covered with asbestos or the like non-inflammable siding 6, and the roof frame is covered with similar roofing T, the joints between slabs of both siding and roofing being cemented to exclude moisture and to make the casing or housing formed by this structure substantially air-tight.

In addition to the cementing of the 'oints, theridges of the roof over the mem ers 4 are protected by strips or roofing-rounds or rolls S.

It will be seen that the casing is so disposed with relation to the sides and top of the tank 1 as to provide an air space or chamber completely surrounding the tank, and air inlets 9 communicating with this space, are arranged at the bottom of the side walls of the casing.

Arranged centrally of the roof is a ventilator 10 having a revoluble cap 11 provided with draft-inducing devices 12, and the stationary member 13 of this ventilator is secured to the root over the central opening 14 therein, and is provided with a plurality of gauze screens 15, or their equivalent, to prevent sparks from entering the casing, and also, in case any gas should become ignited at the mouth 16 of the ventilator, to prevent the flames from burning back into the casing.

To provide for the dissipation of static electricity which is apt to collect in and around the casing, conductors 17 are provided, same being att-ached at one end to the framework 2, as shown, their other ends being buried in the ground at a depth sufficient to insure good electrical contact with moist portions thereof. If desired, to further insure proper conductance of electricity to the earth, the conductors 17 may have their ends connected with copper plates 18 which are buried in the earth on top of moistened charcoal 19, whereby the discharge of electricity will be facilitated.

In order that access may be had to the interior of the casing, I provide a door 20 in the side wall, and a trap 21 in the roof, the latter being reached by means of a ladder 22.

It will be evident that by means of this casing or housing a constant circulation of air around and over the container or tank 1 will be maintained. The opening or mouth 16 of the revoluble ventilator cap 11 being necessarily` always pointed to leeward because of the vane 23 thereon, a current of air will be induced therethrough which will suck air in at the inlets 9 at the bottoms of the side walls. The air thus circulated around the tank will carry off through the ventilator all combustible mixture formed by the escape or seepage of fluid from the tank. The discharge of such mixture being restricted to the opening 14 in the center of the roof and thence through the ventilator at the highest point of the structure, the fire hazard is great-l lessened. Moreover, the constant circulation of air around the tank will have a cooling effect upon the contents thereof and tend to maintain such contents at an even temperature, thereby reducing loss by evaporation and, to a certain extent, preventing deterioration.

It will be understood that I do not consider my invention as limited to the particular construction herein shown and described, as it is obvious that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims following.

What I claim is 1. In combination, a covered tank for the storage of inflammable liquids as hydrocarbons or the like, of means to protect the contents of said tank from fire and evaporation, comprising a casing extending around said tank and over the top thereof in spaced relation thereto and out of contact therewith to form an air chamber around and above said tank, and means located in the roof of said casing for causing a circulation of air through said chamber and around and above the tank whereby to carry off vapors escaping into said chamber from the liquid in said tank and to discharge the same to the atmosphere.

2. In combination, a covered tank for the storage of inflammable liquids as hydrocarbons or the like, of means to protect the contents of said tank from re and evaporation, comprising a casing extending around said tank and over the top thereof in spaced relation thereto and out of contact therewith to form an air chamber around and above said tank, a non-inflammable covering on Said casing, and means for causing a circulation of air through said chamber and around and above the tank whereby to carry off vapors escaping into said chamber from the liquid in said tank and to discharge the same to the atmosphere.

3. In combination, a covered tank for the storage of inflammable liquids as hydrocarbons or the like, of means to protect the contents of said tank from fire and evaporation, comprising a casing extendin around said tank and over the top thereof 1n spaced relation thereto and out of contact therewith to form an air chamber around and above said tank, said casing being provided with air inlets and an outlet. said outlet being located in the roof of said casing, a ventilator arranged in said outlet and adapted to induce a circulation of air through said inlet and around and above the tank whereby to carry off the vapors issuing into said chamber from the liquid in said tank, and a non-inflammable covering on said casing.

4. In combination, a covered tank for the storage of inflammable liquids as hydrocarbons or the like, of means to protect the contents of said tank from fire and evaporation, comprising a casing extending around said tank and over thetop thereof in spaced relation thereto and out of contact therewith to form an air chamber around and above said tank, said casing being provided with air inlets and an outlet, a ventilator arranged in Said outlet and adapted to induce a circulation of air through said inlet and around and above the tank whereby to carry off the vapors issuing into said chamber from the liquid in said tank, means in said outlet for preventing the entrance of burning va'- pors or sparks to the interior of said easing, and a non -inflammable covering on said casing.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WIRT D. RIAL. Witnesses:

WM. W. HULIN, Moms NEYE. 

